Fraser Chinook Management Plan
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2007 Information Document to Assist Development of a Fraser Chinook Management Plan RECORD OF REVISIONS Plan: 2007 Fraser River Chinook Information Document Date last revised: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Version Number: 2 (this number will change if amendments are issued in-season) # Date Page Subject Revision Details Contact E Feb. 21 38 Recreational Catch Figure Corrected. E Feb. 21 43 Recreational Catch Mabel Lake corrected ADDITIONAL NOTES: Table of Contents TABLE OF APPENDICES .........................................................................................................................................4 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................5 2. LIFECYCLE..................................................................................................................................................5 3. GENERAL CONTEXT.................................................................................................................................6 3.1. POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES...........................................6 3.2. PACIFIC SALMON TREATY (PST) .................................................................................................................7 3.3. SPECIAL CONCERNS FOR 2007.....................................................................................................................8 4. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................10 4.1. CONSERVATION..........................................................................................................................................10 4.2. ABORIGINAL FISHERIES FOR FOOD, SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL PURPOSES ..................................................10 4.3. INTERNATIONAL ALLOCATION ...................................................................................................................10 4.4. DOMESTIC ALLOCATIONS ..........................................................................................................................10 5. STOCK ASSESSMENT..............................................................................................................................11 5.1. MANAGEMENT UNITS................................................................................................................................11 5.2. LOWER FRASER RIVER STOCKS.................................................................................................................12 5.3. INTERIOR FRASER RIVER STOCKS .............................................................................................................13 5.4. STOCK ASSESSMENT METHODS.................................................................................................................13 5.5. FORECASTS ...............................................................................................................................................14 5.6. ESCAPEMENT OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................14 5.7. ALBION TEST FISHERY ..............................................................................................................................14 6. ENHANCEMENT.......................................................................................................................................15 6.1. CHILLIWACK RIVER HATCHERY .................................................................................................................15 6.2. CHEHALIS HATCHERY................................................................................................................................16 6.3. BIRKENHEAD HATCHERY ...........................................................................................................................16 6.4. INTERIOR FRASER CHINOOK ENHANCEMENT ............................................................................................16 7. FIRST NATIONS FISHERIES ..................................................................................................................16 7.1. 2006 FISHERY SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................16 7.2. CATCH MONITORING .................................................................................................................................17 7.3. 2007 FISHING PLAN...................................................................................................................................19 8. RECREATIONAL FISHERIES.................................................................................................................19 8.1. FISHERY SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................19 8.2. CATCH MONITORING .................................................................................................................................20 8.3. 2007 FISHING PLAN...................................................................................................................................21 9. COMMERCIAL..........................................................................................................................................21 9.1. OVERALL COMMERCIAL FISHERY SUMMARY ............................................................................................21 9.2. CATCH MONITORING .................................................................................................................................22 9.3. AREA E GILLNET – FRASER RIVER ............................................................................................................22 9.4. AREA G TROLL – WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND ...........................................................................23 9.5. AREA F TROLL – NORTH COAST................................................................................................................24 Table of Appendices APPENDIX A: ALBION TEST FISHERY............................................................................................................................25 APPENDIX B: CHINOOK ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATES TO TRIBUTARIES IN THE LOWER FRASER RIVER ...............................26 APPENDIX C: 1993-2006 CHINOOK ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATES TO TRIBUTARIES IN THE BC INTERIOR............................27 APPENDIX D: CTC INDICATOR STOCKS ........................................................................................................................31 APPENDIX E: FRASER RIVER FIRST NATIONS FISHING TIMES AND CATCH BY AREA.....................................................31 APPENDIX F: 2006 RECREATIONAL CATCH DATA .........................................................................................................31 APPENDIX G: DRAFT 2007 CHINOOK RECREATIONAL FISHING PLANS .........................................................................31 APPENDIX H: 2006 COMMERCIAL CATCHES AND SUMMARY OF 2004 AREA H SAMPLING PROGRAM...........................31 APPENDIX I: SALMON ENDOWMENT FUND ...................................................................................................................31 APPENDIX J: ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION...................................................................................................31 APPENDIX K: DFO CONTACTS ......................................................................................................................................31 List of Tables TABLE 1: INTERIM MANAGEMENT UNITS FOR FRASER RIVER CHINOOK SALMON.................................... 11 1. Introduction Fraser River Chinook salmon are an important part of the ecology of the Fraser River watershed. They are the largest of the seven species of Pacific salmon (including steelhead and anadromous cutthroat) returning to the Fraser and have the widest distribution, with some stocks migrating distances over 900 km from the mouth to systems near the headwaters of the Fraser. They have sustained First Nations for thousands of years, provide important recreational harvesting opportunities, and were an important part of the colonization of British Columbia and commercialization of the British Columbia fishing industry. This information document is intended to compliment the Southern BC Integrated Fisheries Management Plans for salmon. This document is necessary as Chinook fisheries in the Lower Fraser area generally start in March, the estimate of aggregate abundance used to determine allowable harvest levels for Chinook is also available in March but the Integrated Fishery Management Plans are usually not finalized until May or June of a given year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to consult with First Nations, recreational and commercial fishers to further co-ordinate Chinook fishing plans for 2007. Further consultation will occur as sector specific plans are finalized. 2. Lifecycle There are several distinctly different life histories exhibited by Fraser River Chinook salmon. Chinook salmon spawn in numerous tributary systems throughout the Fraser watershed from just above the tidal limits to the